Motorists are being warned to allow extra time for journeys after it was announced a section of a busy city road is to be closed for up to three months to pave the way for multi-million-pound transformation work.
College Road in Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent, will be shut in two phases from Thursday, November 30 with a signed diversion route and traffic management systems in place.
It will affect the section of road adjacent to Hanley Park – between the roundabout at Avenue Road and the junction with Cleveland Road.
Work being carried out is part of the £29 million Transforming Cities Fund scheme, which aims to improve access for buses, reduce traffic congestion, improve safety at junctions and make it more cycle and pedestrian friendly.
During the closure, the College Road bus stops will be temporarily diverted to Stoke Road and a diversion route for motorists will take them along Broad Street, Snow Hill, Stoke Road and Avenue Road.
When the second phase of work begins, motorists will not be able to exit College Road from Wellesley Street either.
Access to all properties will be maintained with a temporary footpath and temporary traffic lights will be installed to maintain the flow of traffic. Working hours are Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 5.30pm.
Early next year, similar road works are planned for Station Road along with public realm schemes.
Meanwhile, since the Spring a bus gate has been operational on part of College Road to restrict through traffic to bicycles, taxis, buses and authorised vehicles between Station Road and Queen Anne Street.
Work is being carried out by Civil engineering contractor Galliford Try on behalf of Stoke-on-Trent City Council. The overall aim of the project is to create a more attractive travel route between Stoke-on-Trent Station and the city centre.
Yeah, why not make Stoke-on-Trent even more of a nightmare to navigate for people from out of the area? I have a better idea. Build a wall around the entire city with passport controls and don’t let anyone without a valid Stoke-on-Trent passport in.